Allan NairnThinkers

Torture by proxy (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the tidy arrangement in which a power pays, arms, trains and guides the torturers while keeping its own hands a step removed.